Research Prize for Würzburg Rheumatologists
12/02/2025Dr Patrick Pascal-Strunz was honoured by the German Bekhterev Disease Foundation. He received the research prize for the best scientific paper in German in this field.
Only every two to three years does the German Bekhterev Disease Foundation award its research prize, which is endowed with 7,500 euros. This makes it even more special in the eyes of Dr Patrick-Pascal Strunz. The rheumatologist from Würzburg University Hospital (UKW) is this year's winner of the "Research Prize for the best scientific work in German in the field of ankylosing spondylitis (Bechterew's disease) and related diseases (spondyloarthritis)".
An App Motivates People to Exercise More
Patrick-Pascal Strunz received the research prize for the development and clinical testing of a therapy app for axial spondyloarthritis. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), also known as ankylosing spondylitis, is an inflammatory disease of the spine and sacroiliac joints. It often affects young adults and leads to chronic back pain.
Together with Applimeda, a start-up founded by medical students from Würzburg, the German Ankylosing Spondylitis Association (DVMB) and sufferers, Strunz has developed a digital therapy aid for people with axSpA. The "Axia" app complements drug treatment by actively involving patients in their therapy and helping them to integrate regular exercise - a central component of treatment - more easily into their everyday lives. Although consistent exercise and physiotherapy are considered essential alongside anti-inflammatory medication, they are often not implemented enough in everyday life.
"Receiving the Bekhterev Research Award is a great honour for me," comments Patrick-Pascal Strunz. "It fills me with pride to be able to join the ranks of important German ankylosing spondylitis researchers. I am particularly pleased that a project has been honoured in which sufferers and the self-help group have actively collaborated - and which also brings tangible, direct benefits for those affected."
More information about the app can be found here (press release from 1 July 2025)
The Research Prize of the German Bekhterev Disease Foundation
The German Ankylosing Spondylitis Foundation has set itself the goal of promoting scientific research into ankylosing spondylitis and related inflammatory spinal diseases, their causes and their treatment. It also aims to inform sufferers and the public about the results of research.
To realise these goals, the Foundation regularly awards a research prize. The award is decided by a board of trustees made up of scientists appointed by the Foundation. The prize, which is endowed with 7,500 euros, was announced by the German Ankylosing Spondylitis Association (DVMB) until 2020 and is awarded every two to three years.
